Enormous Potential in CPEC to Reshape the Economic Outlook of the Regional States:  Speaker Asad Qaiser

Pak-Bosnia Parliamentary Interaction to Boost Multilateral Ties: NA Speaker

Islamabad January 28, 2020: Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser has said that CPEC was a game changer not only the Pakistan but the whole region. He said that CPEC had enormous potential to reshape the economic outlook of the regional states. He said that Gilgit-Baltistan was the gateway to China and beyond thus progress and prosperity of the region was directly linked with CPEC. The Speaker National Assembly was talking to Mr. Fida Muhammad Nashad, Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly in Islamabad, this morning. Chairman PAC Capt (R) Sikander Ali also accompanied the Gilgit-Baltistan Speaker.
 
The Speaker Asad Qaiser said that the present government strongly believed that socio-economic development of all the provinces was imperative for development of the country. He said that government had paid special focus on infrastructure development of Gilgit-Baltistan which was gateway to China and central Asia. He said that Gilgit-Baltistan was blessed with rich tourism, mineral and human potential. He said that development of tourism potential would attract foreign tourists giving a boost to the economy of the country through job creation and business activity.
 
Speaker Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly Mr. Fida Muhammad Nashad said that Gilgit-Baltistan was an integral part of Pakistan and frontline of defense against any Indian aggression. He said that people of Gilgit-Baltistan consider them patriot Pakistanis and were actively contributing towards national development. Acknowledging the substantial financial allocation made by the Government of Pakistan, said that major infrastructure, health, education and skill development projects had been carried out in Gilgit-Baltistan. He said that people of Gilgit-Baltistan were actively engaged in economic opportunities created after the advent of CPEC projects. He apprised the Speaker National Assembly about the ongoing socio-economic development projects in Gilgit-Baltistan. He also shared the structure of Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly, Legislation enacted and its Committees.
 
Later, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovinian Mr. Sakib Foric called on Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser in Parliament House. The Speaker while talking to the Bosnian Ambassador said that Pakistan attached immense importance to its ties with Bosnia and wanted to enhance them through enhanced parliamentary interaction besides cooperation in diverse sectors. He said that CPEC had provided opportunity for Pakistan to become a logistic and economic hub for South Asia, Central and Western Asia, Middle East and Western China. He said that immense economic opportunities welcome foreign investors to take advantage of immense economic potential in the Pakistan. The Speaker asked the Ambassador to convey invitation to his Bosnian Counterpart to visit Pakistan.
 
Referring to the ongoing human catastrophe in Indian Occupied Kashmir, the Speaker said that Bosnia being the Member of the European Union should support resolution of Kashmir issue in accordance with the aspiration of people of Kashmir and UN resolutions. He said that 177-days of lockdown in Indian Occupied Kashmir had turned the valley into a virtual jail with height of human miseries. He also said that the adoption of Indian Citizenship Act was against the international norms and had also exposed the democratic façade of India.
 
The Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovinian Mr. Sakib Foric said that his country attaches importance to its relations with Pakistan since Pakistan was one of the few countries to extend assistance to his country after it came to being. He said that his country also strongly desired to cement its bilateral relations with Pakistan. The Ambassador agreed said that the interaction between the parliamentarians would further pave the way for enhancing cooperation in diverse sectors. He said that Kashmir issue was a longstanding dispute and needed to be resolved in accordance with UN resolution. He said that Bosnia had been subjected to worst human crises in the past thus knew the gravity of the situation.